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Rocking Our World

I hope you were prepared. A mountain-size asteroid zoomed by Earth last Monday. Affectionately known as Asteroid 2004 BL86, the hurtling mass is about 1800 feet wide. The massive rock is roughly twice the size of the Rose Bowl. Not until 2027 will something this large pass by our planet again. Flying by at 35,000 mph, it never got closer than 745,000 miles so we were never in any danger. You would have had to some significant equipment to see it last Monday night.

They tell us that all kind of stuff is flying at us from outer space. We have also learned that thousands of pieces of space junk orbit the planet. Most of it burns up when it enters the atmosphere, but it’s getting crowded up there.

If you listen to the dooms-day folks, sooner or later one of those big rocks won’t miss. It will come close enough to cause a cataclysmic event. It might be a direct hit, a global killer.

As if we didn’t have enough to worry about.

There is a great deal of things wrong in our world. Threats abound – terrorism, environmental disasters, epidemics, wars, and more. We can live in fear if we choose. A lot of things can rock our world.

An old hymn comes to mind – “This is My Father’s World.” The last verse seems particularly appropriate: “This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet. This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done. Jesus who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one.”

In 1 John 4:18, we find this encouragement: “Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear.”

What love? When the Bible defines love, it is profoundly simple: “God is love” (1 John 4:8)

I love the old saying: “I don’t know what the future holds, but I do know Who holds the future.”

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About Mark Wilbanks

Dr. Wilbanks became Wieuca’s fifth senior pastor in February of 2012. Mark’s father, Oliver Wilbanks, served as Associate Pastor here from 1966 to 1982. Wieuca had a tremendous influence in shaping Mark’s call to ministry during his teenage and young adult years. A graduate of both Southern and New Orleans Baptist Theological seminaries, Mark has served churches in Kentucky, Florida, and Georgia. He pastored Southside Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida for 17 years and Bradfordville First Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida for ten years. He and his wife, Kim, were married in 1979 and have two sons, Andy and Jordan. Andy is married to Lindsay and they have a son, Cade, a daughter, Ruthie, and welcomed their third child, Samuel, in October.